How to access the Android cloud from Xiaomi phone: all the ways and nuances

Why you need to access the cloud on Xiaomi

Cloud storage has become an integral part of the Android ecosystem, and Xiaomi smartphones are no exception, allowing you to automatically back up photos, contacts, notes and even system settings, freeing up space on the internal drive. But many users are faced with the confusion: which cloud to use — built-in Mi Cloud from Xiaomi or standard Google Drive from Android?

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to log into the cloud from a Xiaomi phone, from basic authorization to restore access when you lose your password. MIUI, You will also learn how to avoid common errors when working with cloud services and what to do if the system requires confirmation through an old phone number.

It is important to understand that the procedure may differ depending on the version. MIUI And the smartphone model. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14 path to cloud settings will be different than on the Redmi Note 10 MIUI 12.5 We're going to take these nuances into account and provide universal solutions.

Method 1: Sign in to Google Cloud (Google Drive) via Google Account

The standard Android cloud is Google Drive, which is integrated into the system at the kernel level, and to access it from a Xiaomi phone, you just need to follow a few simple steps.

1. Open Settings → Google Accounts.
2. If no account is added, click Add Account and follow the instructions.
3. For an existing account, tap it and select Account Sync.

Once authorized, all supported data (contacts, calendar, photos via Google Photos) will start syncing automatically. Note that Xiaomi can block background syncing by default to save charge.

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Battery → Optimizing the battery
• 📱 Find the Google App and select Without Limits
• 🔗 Enable the option of Autosynchronization of data in the account settings

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If files don’t show up after you log in to Google Drive, check the Recycle Bin folder – sometimes deleted files are recovered from there within 30 days.

To access files directly in the cloud, use the Google Drive app (installed from the Play Market if removed).

• 📁 Review and edit documents
• 🖼️ Upload photos in original quality (set up in Google Photos)
• 🔗 Make files available offline

Method 2: Authorization in Mi Cloud – Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s own cloud storage, which offers 5GB for free (versus Google’s 15GB). MIUI. For example, here they are preserved:

• 📱 System backups (including wallpaper and launcher settings)
• 📞 Call log and SMS (optionally)
• 📝 Notes from the annex Notes
• 🎵 Music and recordings from the recorder

To enter the Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account on new versions).
2. If the account is not created, click Register and specify a valid email.
3. For an existing account, enter a password and go through two-factor authentication (if enabled).

Connect your phone to Wi-Fi|Charge the battery to a minimum. 50%|Release me. 1-2 GB memory|Turn it off. VPN (can block synchronization)

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Once you have successfully logged in, you will be able to access the web version of the cloud at i.mi.com (which also works with PCs).

Method 3: Accessing the Cloud through Xiaomi File Manager

Few people know, but in a standard file manager. MIUI There's a built-in partition for cloud storage, which is convenient if you need to quickly download or download files without opening individual applications:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the Cloud tab in the lower menu.
3. Choose Mi Cloud or Google Drive depending on the service you want.
4. Sign in if the system requests a password.

This interface can be used to:

• 📥 Download files directly to the phone memory
• 📤 Upload photos and videos to the cloud (convenient to free up space)
• 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files without going to the web version
• 🔍 Search files by name (only for Mi Cloud)

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Xiaomi file manager supports batch file upload to the cloud – highlight a few elements and select “Download to Mi Cloud” from the menu.

Limitation of this method: the file manager does not display Google documents (tables, presentations), for which you will have to use a separate Google Drive application.

Solving the problem: What to do if you can’t log in to the cloud

Even with the right data entry, Xiaomi users often encounter errors when logging into cloud services.

⚠️ Note: If after resetting the phone to the factory settings Mi Cloud requires confirmation through an old account, and you do not remember it - do not try to guess the password repeatedly.

Problem 1: “Impossible to connect to the server” when you log in to Mi Cloud.

• 🌐 Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🕒 Make sure the date and time on the phone is set automatically.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Mi Cloud and clear the cache.
• 🛡️ Turn it off. VPN Proxies – they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.

Problem 2: Google Drive doesn’t sync photos.

• 📸 Open the Google Photos app and check your backup settings.
• 🔋 Make sure that the battery settings for Google Photos do not set a background activity limit.
• 📶 Try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile internet (sometimes helps when blocked by the provider).

Problem 3: When you log in to Mi Account, the account says "Device is not supported."

This is a bug that happens on custom firmware or after rooting.

• 🔄 Refuse the phone to the official MIUI via Fastboot.
• 📱 Reset your phone to factory settings (data will be deleted!).
• 🔓 If the phone is unlocked, try temporarily locking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.

How to Recover Data from the Cloud to a New Xiaomi Phone

When buying a new Xiaomi smartphone (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO F6) You can move all the data from the cloud automatically:

1. When you first turn on your phone, select Restore from backup.
2. Sign in to the same Mi Account or Google Account as your old device.
3. Select the last backup from the list.
4. Confirm the recovery and wait until it is completed (may take up to 30 minutes).

If the phone is already configured, you can restore data through:

• 🔄 Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Restore
• 📱 Mi Mover app (allows you to transfer data from another Xiaomi over Wi-Fi Direct)

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Before you restore, check if there is enough space on your new phone. If the backup weighs 10 GB and only 8 GB is free, the process will stop in the middle.

An important nuance: when recovering from Mi Cloud, transfer:

• ✅ Contacts, SMS, call-in
• ✅ Photos and videos (if uploaded to the cloud)
• ✅ System settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness)
• ❌ Installed applications (only their list, themselves) APK-files are not restored)

How to Protect Data in the Xiaomi Cloud

Keeping your personal data in the cloud is always risky, and to minimize it on Xiaomi phones, follow these guidelines:

⚠️ Note: If you use the same password for your Mi Account and other services (e.g. email), attackers can access all your data through a leak on one of the resources!

Step 1: Set up two-factor authentication (2FA):

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account. → Security.
2. Select two-step verification and follow the instructions.
3. Save your backup codes in a safe place (such as a password manager).

Step 2: Checking active sessions:

• 🔍 In the same Security section, find Device Management.
• 📱 Remove all unfamiliar devices from the list.
• 🔄 Regularly (once in) 2-3 month) update your account password.

Step 3: Encrypting backups:

In Mi Cloud, default backups are not encrypted. To enable encryption:

1. When creating a backup copy in Settings → The phone. → Backup.
2. Activate the option to Encrypt a copy and set a password (at least 8 characters).
3. ⚠️ Do not lose this password – without it, it will be impossible to restore data!

Step 4: Restricting access to the cloud:

• 🔒 In the Mi Account settings, disable the Automatic Login option.
• 📴 Set up a screen lock (print, Face) ID or PIN-code of at least 6 digits).
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (such as Avast or Bitdefender) to scan downloaded files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about working with the cloud on Xiaomi